Donovan has had two spells in Germany for Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich but admits he can’t wait to test himself in Europe’s toughest league.

He arrives on the back of a successful campaign in the States which saw him lead the Galaxy to the final of the MLS Cup and secure the Major League Soccer’s Most Valuable Player award.

And the next 10 weeks will certainly provide a stern test of his ability with tomorrow’s trip to Arsenal followed by games against the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United before he heads home.

“Quite early on in my career there were some opportunities to play over here but it didn’t happen,” he said.

“This was the first time a club showed real interest and the timing was right so it was perfect.

“I don’t feel I have anything to prove as I don’t live my life that way. But I am very motivated myself and that is going to be enough to keep me going.

“We only have one shot at life and I want to be the best I can be. That means that for the next 10 weeks I am here at Everton and every day I am going to be as good as I can be.

“It is going to be a test for the team as a whole but that’s the Premier League. Every week you guys talk about Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham, but every game that I watch and especially this year a lot of points have been taken off the top teams.

“So every game is going to be important. I am only here a short time and I want to take advantage of every opportunity.”

Donovan is hoping his stint at Everton will help maintain his form and fitness ahead of this summer’s World Cup finals in South Africa.

The USA are in the same group as England but he insists he doesn’t look upon the coming months as a spying mission for his nation.

“My first objective is to help this team,” he added.

“Once we head to South Africa, having the experience of playing against some of these players, getting to watch most of the games on TV, that will help.

“But it goes both ways. Everyone’s focus will be on the game in hand, but I’m sure any of the England players who play against myself, Clint Dempsey or Jozy Altidore, they will have insight that teams like Slovenia and Algeria won’t have.

“But my focus is here and I will think about the World Cup later.”